In the loser's bracket final, winner to meet the undefeated team
for championship. [No IF game] Home batting, UP 1-0. Home Team Coach asked how much time is left. I respond, "two minutes coach." She is batting with one out. Does nothing. Next batter hits first pitch for a ground out. Still nothing from coach. Next batter hits first pitch foul pop to 1B. Inning over, 1 min and seconds left, We start a new inning. You guessed it, visitors score 3, lead 3-1, win 3-1. In this association, [Yes, Tom, that one] offensives and defensives are allowed two times outs per 1/2 inning. She is driving home with both of hers still unused. All she needed to use was one and have batter take a couple of pitches. |
Would you not consider calling the timeouts right after asking you how much time was left an attempt to stall or delay? Is this not illegal in your assoc?
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Illegal or not it is bush to take a time out. Telling each batter to take a few pitches is a classier way to run the four corners.
I once saw a team where the home team was running the clock. So the defensive coach called a full team huddle in the circle. Players went back to their positions and faced center field. |
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rules. It would not have been the same as tying shoes, fixing hair,or players calling time to visit pitcher. I cannot see not allowing a coach to visit her pitcher. Now, if she is taking too long, that is a different story. The opposing coach was amazed that she did not utilize her timeouts. [and glad she did not] |
There is a line between managing the clock (which in my moments of idealism I'd like to see done away with - the clock, that is) and "tactics noticeably designed to delay" (or hasten). The former is legal. The latter will garner a warning from me, reminding the coach of the ultimate penalty.
I would consider routine defensive conferences to be managing the clock. I would consider a sudden outbreak of untied shoes, a sudden need to give long and elaborate signals, a sudden need to work out those shoulder cramps with lots of practice swings, etc., to be "tactics..." I would also consider a change in pitchers followed by 5 warm up pitches followed by another change in pitchers to be "tactics..." but apparently the UIC at an ASA National a few years ago did not. Maybe it's not a line between clock management and "tactics..." - maybe it's a DMZ! |
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